Convertible table and cabinet



NQV. 30, 1937. J, FANARJlAN v i 2,100,641

CONVERTIBLE TABLE AND CABINET Filed Jan. 1e, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 1 1956 2 sheets-sheet 2 J. FANARJIAN CONVERTIBLE TABLE AND CABINET Filed Jan. 16,

i MM Hmmm ATTORNEY.

Nov. 30, 1937.

Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in convertible table and cabinet.

One of the objects of this invention is to produce a foldable table convertible into a relatively 6 narrow cabinet and comprising a stationary centrally-located flat top portion forming the top of the cabinet and oppositely folding leaves forming sides thereof, said device having movable legs extensible when converted into a. table, and contractible or foldable when converted into cabinet form.

Another object of my invention is, in a device of the character described, to provide extensible legs movable from contracted to extended position by the movement of the said foldable leaves.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein specified, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig l is a View in perspective of a convertible cabinet and table embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1 with the end member removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the foldable legs and adjacent members removed;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the device shown in extended position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation and section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line I 'l of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the sliding elements and connections therewith, and

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to these drawings, I indicates a base member of a cabinet including a bottom member 2 spaced from an intermediate member 3 to provide a compartment for a drawer I'. Mounted at opposite ends of the base member in any suitable manner are a pair of vertical slide frames 4, 4 each having double grooves 6 and 1. Said frames 4, 4 have top rails 4a on which, as shown, is supported the centrally disposed at table top portion 5, thus providing an oblong the folding or closing movement of the leaves 24 A vwill cause-the contraction or inward movement of the legs 29.

In order to accomplish thesel movements the foldable leaves 24 are hinged by hinges 25 to side edges of the centrally-located table top member 5 i so as to be foldable to form the sides of a cabinet when in folded position and to be extensible into registration with the centrally-located member 5- to provide an extended table top.

The foldable leaves 24 are, in the embodiment 4 shown, connected through slides I0 and II, movable in the frame 4 with the legs 29 in such manner that the extension movement of the leaves 24 will cause a do-wnward and outward movement of the legs 29 and a closing movement of the leaves 24 will cause an upward and inward movement of said legs 29.

In the embodiment shown, the table leaves 24 are provided on their under surface with brackets 23 connected by links 22 with the bottom portion of a block II slidable in ways in the frame 4 and the said slidable block II is connected by the flexible connection I6, running over pulley I8, to a block I0, also slidable in ways in the frame 4 and which carries the legs 29 pivotally mounted thereon. In the embodiment shown the flexible connection I6 is connected with the block II through a slide member I4 which slides in way members I5, having therebetween a central channel I 5 through which the member I 6 extends. 3

This connection of the slidable block II with the connection I6 is desirable in order to compensate for the diiference in extended movement of the two blocks and in the preferred form of my invention the exible connection is continuous and extends around the pulley I'I mounted at the lower end of the cabinet so that the two slides IU and I I and the flexible connection form a unitary and compensating system in which movement of one of the slides will be transmitted to the other. As the bottom surface of the foldable leaves 24 are connected to the slide I I it will be obvious that the opening movement of the member 24 will cause an upward movement of the slide II and that this upward movement of the slide II will cause the slide I0 which carries the legs 29 to be moved downwardly. The lower ends of these legs rest upon .a wedge member 21 which is adapted during the downward movement thereof to force the same to swing upon its pivots 28 outwardly and into the position shown in Fig. 5 in which the sides of the members 29 will abut against the wedge member 21 and the edges 29' thereof will be moved into parallel relationship to each other and into contact with a stationary stop element I9' mounted on the inner surface of the wall I9 of the cabinet. Lowering of the leaves will conversely result in a downward movement of the slide Il and an upward movement of the legcarrying slide I0. During this upward movement the upper edges of the legs 29 come in contact with an upper wedge member 26 which forces the top portions of the legs above the pivots apart and swings the body portion thereof into closed or folded position.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention the slide I l is releasably latched in its raised position to lock the leaves 24 in extended position and for this purpose I mount upon the bottom surface of the member 5 a pair of latches 3| engageable with the shelf H' on the slide H and connected by a pair of flexible connections 32 passing over pulleys 30 and connected to a single operating member 32 the end 33 of which may be grasped by the operator to release the latch member 3| and permit a downward movement of the slide ll with a consequent folding movement of the leaves 24.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown, the mechanism beneath the member 5 is enclosed in a compartment 9 formed between the ends 4a, sides 4 and bottom 4b of a pan-shaped element connected to the frame 4.

As illustrated the inside of the cabinet is lined with metal walls to provide compartments 20 and 26' preferably divided from each other by a transverse partition 20a.

From the above it will be seen that I have provided a convertible table-cabinet device which, when in extended position will be solid because of the extension of the legs and which when in folded condition will be small and compact and will Ybe portable, a carrying handle 34 being provided for this purpose. 'Ihe ends of the cabinet are closed and the slides enclosed by end members I9.

If desired, the lower compartment 20 may be used to carry and contain ice, and under such circumstances I provide a drain-pipe or tube 2|]b extending from the compartment 20 to the bottom of the cabinet.

leaves hinged at opposite edges of said stationary member and movable into horizontally-disposed extended position and into parallel verticallydisposed folded position, said frame being provided at the ends thereof with pairs of legs shorter than the height of said frame and having a combined sliding and pivotal movement into extended and folded position, said legs in extended position projecting outwardly from said frame and in folded position being foldable within the confines of said supporting frame, and mechanism connecting said foldable table-top members with said foldable legs to cause extension and folding movements of the legs automatically upon similar movements of table-top members.

2. A convertible table and cabinet comprising a supporting frame, a stationary table-top member supported on said frame, foldable table-top leaves hinged at opposite edges of said stationary member and movable into horizontally-disposed extended position and into parallel verticallydisposed folded position, said frame being provided at the ends thereof with pairs of legs shorter than the height of said frame and having a combined sliding and pivotal movement into extended and folded position, said legs in extended position projecting outwardly from said frame and in folded position being foldable within the confines of said supporting frame, and counter-movable slide mechanism having connections with said foldable legs and with Said table top members to cause extension and folding movements of the legs automatically upon similar movements of table-top members.

3. A convertible table and cabinet comprising f a supporting frame, a stationary table-top member supported on said frame, foldable table-top leaves hinged at opposite edges of said stationary member and movable into horizontally-disposed extended position and into parallel vertically-disposed folded position, two pairs of slide members supported in said frame, the members of a pair being mounted to have counter-movement relative to each other, a pair of legs pivotally mounted on one member of each of the pairs of slides and movable thereby into extended and folded positions, said legs in extended position projecting outwardly from said frame and in folded position being foldable within the confines of said supporting frame, and means connected with the other members of said pairs of slides for moving said legs alternately into extended and folded positions.

JOHN FANARJIAN. 

